Masters shine at Little Silver

Kyle Price of Milltown returned to Little Silver this past Sunday to win once more the 5K race that he won in 2017.His win this year in 15:17 beat his own time of 15:23 in the 2017 race.Aaron Leskow of Morristown was second in 15:38 and Mathew Slocum of Montclair was third in 16:10.

The race was the New Jersey masters men’s championship and it was fitting that Jonathan Frieder, age 47, of Rye Brook, NY, who is on a hot streak this season was fourth overall in 16:21.His brother Elliott of Montville was the next master in 16:40.Eight hundred meter specialist Mark Williams of Columbia rounded up the top three masters in 16:45.

Kristin Andrews of Manalapan finished in 17:48 for first place on the women’s side.Kiera Russo of Eatontown was second in 18:28 and Robyn Evangelist of Egg Harbor Township was third in 18:45.

The Frieders lead their M40 Garden State Athletic Team New Balance to first place in their division, with Williams leading in his Garmin Runners team to second.Garden State’s B team was third, followed by the Shore Athletic Club.

The Garmin Runners M50 team placed first in their division, lead in by Mark Zamek, 55, of Allentown PA whose 17:01 put him in first in the age graded file at 90.12%.Jonathan Frieder was second with 88.21%.Brian Crowley, 53, of Hillsborough finished in 17:12 for an 87.77% to place third.

The Shore AC team was second in the M50 and Garden State was third.The Garmin Runners took first in the M60 division with the Shore’s A and B teams following.The Shore team hit first in the M70 division with the Clifton Road Runners second and third with their A and B teams respectively.In a first for this year, the Shore club fielded an M80 team.

Although the race was the masters men’s championship, prize money was also awarded to masters women and Lorraine McPhillips, 64, of Basking Ridge whose time of 23:55 was age graded at 81.49% will receive the top prize purse.Dawn Wilcox, 45, of Little Silver who finished in 20:13 was next with a PLP of 77.72%.Debbie Brathwaite, 59, of Garfield finished in 23:43 to round out the age grading top three at 77.22%.

WILLIAMS MEDALS IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

We’d been watching him train on Facebook and reading his posts as he prepared for the WMA meet in Malaga Spain.That hard work paid off for Mark Williams of Columbia in September.Over eight thousand masters athletes from around the world gather together every two years to compete in a nearly two-week long masters track and field championship meet.

Williams, who grew up in Hopatcong, specializes in mid distance events, with the 800 meters being his prime target.Williams first had to qualify for the event, which he did handily in 2:01.05 placing second in his heat.Then came the final and running against the fastest men age 45 to 49 in the world, Williams finished in 2:01.26 for second place.

In the 1,500 meter final he finished in eighth place out of 16 runners in a time of 4:17.20.On the last day of the meet his American team finished in fourth place in the 4 X 400 relay, finishing in 3:35.27.